Tips, how-tos and explainers on Iqama, visas, jobs, banking, driving and everyday life in the Kingdom.
Even careful drivers eventually deal with a minor fender-bender, and knowing the correct process in Saudi Arabia — rather than guessing under stress in the moment — makes a genuinely stressful situation far more manageable. Here's what Saudi traffic authorities actually want you to do.
02 Aug 2026Once you've gone through the process of getting your Saudi driving license the first time (which we cover in our first-timer's guide), renewal is thankfully a much simpler affair — but it's still worth understanding the process clearly so an expiring license doesn't catch you off guard.
02 Aug 2026Setting up reliable home internet is usually high on the list right after moving into a new place, and Saudi Arabia's telecom market gives you genuine choice — knowing the basics before you commit to a plan helps you avoid overpaying or ending up with a package that doesn't fit how you actually use the internet at home.
02 Aug 2026For years, foreign ownership of real estate in Saudi Arabia was a patchwork of exceptions and residency-linked workarounds. That changed in a real, structural way this year. The Non-Saudi Real Estate Ownership Law took effect on 22 January 2026, and by the summer, the Cabinet had approved the specific geographical zones and implementing regulations that make it usable in practice, not…
01 Aug 2026If you rent in Riyadh, one piece of news from late 2025 has real, ongoing relevance to your monthly budget: a royal order froze both residential and commercial rents across the city for five years, running through 2030. If you're currently renting, considering a move, or negotiating a renewal, understanding exactly what this freeze does and doesn't cover matters directly to your…
01 Aug 2026Every month, billions of riyals move out of Saudi Arabia as expats send money home to family — remittances from the Kingdom reached SR144.2 billion in a recent full year, the highest level in years. If you're one of the millions of people regularly sending part of your salary home, a few practical habits can meaningfully improve how much of that money actually arrives.
01 Aug 2026Walk through any major Saudi city's gold souk and you'll notice something quickly: gold buying here isn't a niche hobby, it's a genuine part of daily commercial life, and a huge number of expats participate in it too — whether as a store of value, a wedding tradition, or simply a practical way to bring something tangible home after years of working abroad.
01 Aug 2026One of the pleasant surprises for many new expats in Saudi Arabia is just how affordable fuel is compared to most of the world — but prices aren't static, and understanding how the pricing structure works helps you budget more accurately, especially if you're commuting daily across a large city like Riyadh or Jeddah.
01 Aug 2026If you drive in Saudi Arabia, a quiet update to the traffic fine schedule this year is worth knowing about, especially since it affects two of the most common highway speeds in the Kingdom: 120 km/h and 140 km/h roads. Whether you've been driving here for years or just got your Iqama-linked license, a few minutes understanding the current numbers can save you a genuinely unpleasant…
30 Jul 2026